Robb Report: Chef Massimo Bottura on Late-Night Cravings, Gucci Sweaters and Being Too Shy to Meet Bob Dylan
Jan. 23, 2021
In 1995, when chef Massimo Bottura opened Osteria Francescana, his restaurant in Modena, Italy, he introduced a menu that dared to rewrite traditional, classic Italian dishes. The experimental menu would be playful, bold and cerebral: Dishes would be inspired by jazz great Thelonious Monk and evoke the creativity of Damien Hirst, bridging the worlds of art and music through food.
Predictably, the restaurant initially baffled locals and aggrieved arguably the most powerful guardians of Italian cuisine—Italian nonne—who bristled at the breaking of longstanding food traditions. But things change. Since earning three Michelin stars and topping the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list twice (in 2016 and 2018), Bottura has become recognized as a pioneer of modern Italian cuisine.
In recent years, Bottura was tapped by his childhood friend Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri to oversee restaurants for the fashion house in Florence and Beverly Hills. And as a lover of contemporary art, old jazz and high fashion, Bottura is known for his taste, but the chef is also respected for his philanthropy. Through his foundation, Food for Soul, Bottura works to combat food waste and serve the underprivileged in cities such as Paris, London, Rio de Janeiro, Milan and Modena.
https://robbreport.com/food-drink/dining/massimo-bottura-interview-gucci-maserati-coffee-1234590987/
